HIV/AIDS: a study of knowledge and practices of slum adolescents: a case of Kibera and Korogocho slums in Nairobi

Abstract

HIV/AIDS is a worldwide epidemic that affects almost all the countries. In Africa, half of the infections occur among the young people (UNAIDS, 2002). In Kenya particularly, the government recognizes the youth as the most vulnerable group among the entire population (Sessional Paper No 4 1997).

The study targeted the slum adolescents because of the social problems that are unique to the slums that make the slum adolescents more vulnerable to the HIV/AIDS scourge.

The study therefore sought to investigate the knowledge the slum adolescents have on HIV/AIDS and the effect the knowledge have on their sexual practices.

The results revealed that the knowledge among the slum adolescents is very high (81.2%). The knowledge was found to be affected by the adolescents' age and level of education.

As a result, the study recommends that the youth out of school and the younger adolescents should be targeted most in the awareness campaign.

The study also found that the level of knowledge positively affect the sexual practices, hence the study recommends that awareness campaign should go on for it is one of the best methods of combating HIV/AIDS.